Headlines: Marcos signs P6.79T budget | Jan. 6, 2026
Marcos signs P6.79T budgetPRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday enacted the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2026 worth P6.793 trillion but vetoed nearly P92.5 billion in unprogrammed allocations to reinforce fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability. Corruption and its impact on public trust ranked as the top national concern, cited by 25 percent of respondents. PH hosts first-ever International Longboard Qualifiers in La UnionTHE Philippines welcomes the new year with a Longboard International Qualifying event—the La Union International Pro— set January 20 to 24 off Urbiztondo Beach. The target for 2028 — which will include the last six months of the Marcos administration — was kept at 6.0 percent to 7.0 percent. Today's editorial looks at the massive challenges for the Department of Education in 2026.
Source:Manila Times
January 06, 2026 01:04 UTC
Marcos signs P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026
Marcos signs P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026President Marcos is joined by Cabinet members and lawmakers, led by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Senate President Tito Sotto and Speaker Faustino Dy III, after signing the 2026 national budget at Malacañang on January 5, 2026. Marcos vetoed P92.5 billion worth of unprogrammed appropriations, leaving P150.9 billion – a figure critics still deem too high. Unprogrammed fundsOnly three of the 10 items under unprogrammed appropriations were retained in the 2026 budget. Reform agendaMarcos said the 2026 budget is a vital component of the administration’s medium-term development plan and its sweeping reforms in politics and governance. For his part, Speaker Faustino Dy III commended the signing of the 2026 national budget, vowing to exercise the lower chamber’s congressional oversight mandate.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 20:31 UTC
‘Higher agricultural budget to boost food security’
‘Higher agricultural budget to boost food security’This follows President Marcos’ signing yesterday of the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, with the agriculture sector receiving P297.102 billion. MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said yesterday that this year’s higher budget for the sector is expected to boost farm and fishery output and ensure the country’s long-term food security. This follows President Marcos’ signing yesterday of the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, with the agriculture sector receiving P297.102 billion. Tiu Laurel said the higher budget, especially for infrastructure, farming support and postharvest facilities, would improve productivity, cut losses and stabilize supply. “We’re happy that the budget has finally been released, but we still need to review what the final version entails,” Tiu Laurel said.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 18:56 UTC
Philippines allies should help assert West Philippine Sea rights – survey
Philippines allies should help assert West Philippine Sea rights – surveyThis handout photo taken on March 23, 2024 and released by the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (PCG/BFAR) on March 25, 2024 shows an aerial view of BRP Datu Pagbuaya as it sails from the Philippine-held Thitu Island sheltered port, in the Spratly Islands, in the disputed South China Sea. MANILA, Philippines — Most Filipinos want the Marcos administration to work with the United States and other like-minded international partners to assert national interests in the West Philippine Sea, a Pulse Asia survey found. “Filipinos know who is violating our rights, and they know who our friends are. “China’s actions reflect a clear pattern of behavior that puts their expansionist interests above our rights and regional stability. Pulse Asia’s fourth quarter survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.8 percent.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 17:31 UTC
COA flags CHED’s P20 billion unliquidated education subsidy grants
COA flags CHED’s P20 billion unliquidated education subsidy grantsThe photo of the Commission on Audit's office in Quezon CIty. MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) over P20.171 billion in Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) grants that remained unliquidated by various higher education institutions (HEIs) for several years. The audit breakdown showed that CHED regional office (RO) XII was responsible for the bulk of the unliquidated TES grants, amounting to P14.137 billion. COA said the grants remained unliquidated despite having been released to HEIs as early as Academic Year 2019-2020 up to 2023-2024. ROs VIII and III were likewise cited for unliquidated TES grants amounting to P162.287 million and P120.576 million, respectively.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 17:31 UTC
Marcos tells politicians to stay out of 'ayuda' programs
Marcos tells politicians to stay out of 'ayuda' programsComposite: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addresses officials at the ceremonial signing of the national budget on Monday, Jan. 5, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the 2026 national budget into law, he declared that politicians would be barred from participating in the distribution of financial assistance, a move aimed at curbing patronage in welfare programs. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the executive branch will issue "guidelines” governing the disbursement of financial aid under the new provision. As an example, Recto said politicians would be disallowed from attending aid distribution events. Critics have said such programs have fostered dependence on politician-sponsors, with patients needing guarantee letters from politicians to secure hospital assistance.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 17:13 UTC
DOT: Domestic tourism alive during holidays
DOT: Domestic tourism alive during holidaysThe DOT identified the world-famous Boracay Island as the most visited tourist site with 118,745 guests from Dec. 15, 2015 to New Year’s Eve. MANILA, Philippines — Domestic travelers boosted tourism in select destinations in the country during the holidays, the Department of Tourism reported yesterday. The DOT identified the world-famous Boracay Island as the most visited tourist site with 118,745 guests from Dec. 15, 2015 to New Year’s Eve. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the recent Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, prolonged by the school break and a weeklong suspension of work in government, “once again showed how Filipinos continue to explore and support our own destinations.”“The strength of domestic tourism in the Philippines remains a driving force of our travel industry,” Frasco said. However, it showed that 5,235,455 foreign travelers visited the country from January to November 2025.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 16:45 UTC
PCG member saves child from drowning
PCG member saves child from drowningPetty Officer 3 (PO3) Al-Shier Alimuddin of Coast Guard Sub-Station Siasi poses with the eight-year-old child he saved from drowning at a pool in Zamboanga City on Jan. 4, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard yesterday said an off-duty PCG member saved an eight-year-old child who drowned in a resort pool in Zamboanga City on Sunday. PO3 Al-Shier Alimuddin, assigned with the Coast Guard Siasi sub-station, was attending a family gathering in Barangay Cabatangan when alerted of the drowning incident. Although the child was found unresponsive, Alimuddin administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which restored the child’s vital signs and pulse. According to the PCG, the victim was transported to a hospital for further medical treatment.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 16:45 UTC
At the helm
The world helm alone means to take ownership, to lead and ultimately, to take responsibility and pride for what’s to come. Across industries, from food to finance, we are beginning to take our rightful place at the helm. The Philippines, at the helm, now has the chance to shape how the region governs AI, encourages innovation, protects consumers and accelerates growth while people remain at the center. Let’s remember the word Helm as we step into the new year; not just as a symbol, but as our national responsibility and reminder that the Philippines is no longer content to follow. Taking the helm is not about power.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 16:38 UTC
Cautionary tale
Cautionary taleVenezuela is a testament to what can happen to a society when it is deeply mired in corruption. This is a cautionary tale for us Filipinos, including the thieves among us. Corruption in the Philippines, just like in Venezuela, has become so deeply entrenched and systemic. In Venezuela, corruption is deeply rooted in its vast oil reserves. It may well be referring to the Philippines, where corruption and political patronage pull the strings, turning our institutions into marionettes.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 16:33 UTC
Five wishes that could end poverty
Five wishes that could end povertyPoverty in our country is neither a mystery nor an accident. I’ve listed at least five crucial wishes for the Philippines on how to begin ending poverty which is almost in every corner of the country. Freedom from poverty means families are not merely surviving but rather, they are lifted way above the poverty threshold. The system is stacked against them – poor infrastructure, weak access to meaningful credit, volatile prices and competition without effective protection. Starting this year 2026, we must hopefully align national policy, purpose and politics that would break poverty’s hold on our nation.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 16:33 UTC
Diesel, kerosene prices up today; rollback for gas
Diesel, kerosene prices up today; rollback for gasA tricycle driver prepares to refuel at a gasoline station in Paco, Manila yesterday, before fuel price adjustments take effect today. MANILA, Philippines — Fuel prices are set to move in opposite directions today, reflecting recent geopolitical developments that rattled global oil markets. In separate advisories, major oil companies announced an upward adjustment of P0.20 and P0.10 per liter for diesel and kerosene prices, respectively. Jetti president Leo Bellas said the suspension and paralysis of Venezuela’s oil export operations could drive global oil prices higher and sustain market volatility. World crude prices fell yesterday as sanctions on the export of Venezuelan crude oil were seen to be eased, threatening a global supply glut.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 16:33 UTC
Bite-sized resolutions
Less than 10 percent of those who attempt these resolutions ultimately succeed, with many dropping out within half of a year. Step by step, change by change, you will improve. We can break these resolutions down into bite-sized pieces that are more easily achievable and can gradually create a larger impact. David Penny, in “The Power of Small: Achieving Success through Bite-Sized New Year’s Resolutions,” came up with a guide to making resolutions, called the S.M.A.R.T Approach, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound. And if we fail at achieving these bite-sized resolutions, it’s OK.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 16:33 UTC
Singson dares Marcos, Romualdez to debate; Palace ignores challenge
Singson dares Marcos, Romualdez to debate; Palace ignores challengeFormer Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson holds a press briefing on the anomalous flood control scandal in San Juan City on January 5, 2026MANILA, Philippines — Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson yesterday challenged President Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez to a public debate at Malacañang over alleged anomalies in flood control projects. If they say tomorrow and they accept my challenge, I will go to Malacañang,” Singson said. Singson claimed that Marcos was aware of, and allegedly involved in, the supposed corruption, arguing that responsibility should not be pinned on Romualdez alone. She said Marcos has ordered the investigation of all anomalous flood control projects. He further alleged that Marcos and Romualdez were the “masterminds” behind the supposed corruption and claimed that other lawmakers were involved through large allocations for flood control projects, naming several congressmen, including Sandro Marcos.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2026 16:33 UTC